Glasses are a very personal thing. If you need them, then you understand how completely they impact your life. Eyeglasses are also very trendy at the moment, which is a bit odd to those of us saddled with taunts of “four eyes” throughout most of childhood.
The right pair of glasses makes life immeasurably better, and the right looking pair of glasses are that much sweeter. So, when the web-based company EyeBuy Direct reached out and asked that we review a pair of their glasses, and the service behind them, we quickly agreed.
The eyeglass market is moving into new territory, with disruptive brands like Warby Parker upending the stodgy and ridiculously expensive traditional limited-access retail model. Glasses can now be viewed through the lens, as it were, of a fashion accessory. Prices for perfectly fine prescription glasses are in some cases less than for plain old mass luxury brand sunglasses.
For those who must wear glasses to actually see, it is liberating to say the least.
Handmade horn frames will still cost you a small fortune, of course, but for everyday glasses things have dramatically changed.
The glasses we chose to try out, the Darcy, are a slimmed down version of the classic intellectual heavy black bookworm-ish frames. They are made from lightweight Ultem plastic and we found them to be well constructed. The lenses fit perfectly in the frame and overall, the fit and feel when worn are excellent.
With prescription glasses, the lens is all that really matters. We were curious to see the finished product, in part because these are progressive lenses, which are complicated to produce and if not expertly made, uncomfortable to wear. Buying online only increases the potential problems.
As it turns out, the lenses just fine; they transition smoothly and each prescription seems to be spot on. We have been very please with the finished product; from every angle.
Though provided to us at no cost, the final tab for these glasses was $138.00, including the progressive lenses, various special anti-glare and anti-streak coatings, and an option for extra-thin lenses. Shipping was included. At the end of the day, an absolute steal by any definition.
The Darbys arrived in about 10 days and we received regular automated email updates about the glasses’ progress, which was a nice touch that also helped put the wait in context.
The website’s selection of frames is good, but perhaps lacking in quirky, bookish character, which is what we look for in a frame design. While the offering may seem a bit generic, that’s not necessarily a negative. For the price, we were not necessarily expecting anything dramatic or exclusive. We went in looking for a good pair of everyday glasses and the ones we selected were exactly was was promised.
If you are looking to add to your eyeglass wardrobe, EyeBuy Direct is a great, fairly priced resource. Check them out.
Below are some images from the unboxing:
Thanks for the review. So I’m curious, who did you get your eyeglass prescription from?
Hi Mike, glad you liked the review. I always keep a copy of my current prescription from my regular eye doctor.